William neil



No. 6|0,|94. Patented Sept. |898. W. NEIL.

PHOTDGRAPHERS LANTERN.

(Application filed Nov. 29, 1897.1

(No Model.)

EEICE.

WILLIAM NEIL, .or cIIIoAco, ILLINOIS, AssIGNoR To'JAMEs II. sMI'rII', or

sAME PLACE.

PHOTOGRAPHERS LANTERN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,194, dated September 6, 1898.

` Application med November 29,1897. sentire. 660,099.' (rommel.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM NEIL, of Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have `invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic Lanterns, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghadto the .accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which corresponding letters of reference in the different figures indicate like parts.

My invention has for its object to provide a simple, cheap, and effective knockdown lantern for photographers use, which shall be so constructed that it may be readily folded into a compact space "and when in use may serve toprevent the escape of actinic light while aifordingcomplete and thorough ven* tilation. Y z

To these ends my invention consists in the combination of elements hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of my improved lantern. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof, taken upon4 the line 2 2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a sectional View in plan taken upon the line 3 3,- Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the detachable base. Fig. 5 is a sectional view in detail taken upon the line 5 5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a like View takenupon the line 6 6, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a sectional view in detail taken upon the line 7 7, Fig. 5; and Fig. 8 is an end view of the walls of the lantern as they would appearwhen folded for packing.

Referring to the drawings, a, Figs. 1 and 2, represents my improved lantern, which is preferably triangular` in cross-section and consists of folding side walls adapted r to interlock with each other and with a detachable base and top,Y respectively, in such a mannerthat the Wallsare locked in position, while the escape of actinic light through the joints is entirely prevented.

In one of the side walls b, which consists of a single plate of sheet metal, is formed an opening, Figs. 2 and 3, preferably rectangular in form, in which is inserted a panel of transparent or translucentmaterial--such, for example, as ruby-colored or ruby and yellow colored glass, cloth or paper, but preferably ruby cloth d and yellowA paper e, placed together, as shown in Figs.'2 and 3-said panels being larger than the opening in the side Wall and secured in place by means of flanges 5 5V h h upon the sides, bent, as shown, so as to formgrooves for the reception of the panels, (see Figs. 2 and 8,) and flanged clips t' i at `the bottom` and top, respectively, which are bent, as shown, to overlap the bottom and 6o top edges of the panels and also the corresponding edges of the opening. .This arA rangement prevents leakage of light around the edges of the panel. Each of the remaining side walls f g` is formed from a single piece of sheet metal having outwardly-turned hook-shaped ilangesf' g', adapted to engage with inturned flanges jj upon V-shaped oorl ner-piecesjj. (Better shown in'Fig.' 6.) The corner-piecesjj are also provided with lianges 7o j2, which interlock in like manner With the flanges b upon the front b. The flanged corner-pieces connect the two side` walls with the frontor paneled wall in such a Way as to permit of a considerable hinge-like movement of the side Walls While serving to completely intercept the passageA of light.` This `rated from each other far enough' to enable 9o them to connect and interlock with the grooves in the bottom and top. This construction renders it essential thatfmeans should be pro vided for preventing longitudinal movement 0f the side and cornerpieces with respect to 95 each other, and thereby enabling them to become disconnected. I accomplish this `end by cutting away the flanges gat thefrespective ends, as shown at j, Fig. 7, and by compressing those portions ofthe iianges upon roo `the corner-pieces, as shownv at h2, soasto prevent an endwise movement of the flanges g' and hold them longitudinally in position while permitting the desired hinge action. The angles described by the corner-pieces should be more obtuse than those described by the side Walls when the latter are unfolded and in position for use in order to provide for the loose hinge-like interlocking of the flanges.

In order to enable the wallsfg to be detachably interlocked and at the same time to provide a light-tight joint, I preferably form a double flange 7c, Figs. 3 and 8, upon the edge of one of said walls, as f-that is to say, I first bend the metal back upon itself and then reverse it, so as to leave an outwardlyextended llange in a plane parallel to that of the wall itself, with a space 7c', Fig. S, therein for the reception of a flange g upon the wall g. When the walls are unfolded from the position shown in Fig. 8 and the flange g is inserted into the space 7c', the walls assume the position shown in Fig. 3, and each of the corners is rendered light-tight.

The bottom l and top m of the lantern are detachablevand are constructed in such a way as to engage and lock the side walls in the position indicated in Fig. 3. Both the top and bottom are constructed with double walls, so as to provide ventilation and intercept light-rays. The lower wall or bottom plate n is in the construction shown made triangular in shape and provided upon the three sides with vertical upturned flanges n, upon which are formed return-flanges n2. Bosses n3 serve to raise the plate n to admit air to an opening n4, formed in said plate. A- secondary plate 0 of like triangular shape, but smaller in area, forms the inner wall of the base and is provided upon three sides with downwardly and upwardly bent llanges 0, Figs. 2 and 4, the upwardly-bent portions of which interlock with the flanges 'n' n2, thus securely connecting together the two plates n o, so as to provide an intervening space or chamber between them. The plate o is provided with openings o2 for the admission of air, which openings are shielded by means of the obliquely-bent flanges o3, which serve to prevent the escape of light through the opening n4. A socket p is attached to the plate o to serve a's a support for a candle.

The top is formed substantially like the base. The top plate q is provided with depending hook-shaped flanges q', which interlock with the hook-shaped flanges r upon the edges of the inner plate o', a space being provided between the two plates, as shown. An opening s through the inner plate (shown in Fig. 2 and indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l) and openings t in the top plate serve to ventilate the lantern, and inasmuch as the latter openings are shielded by the wings u the passage of light-rays is entirely intercepted.

Owing to the construction of the interlocking flanges upon the plates-constituting thebase and top, respectively, intersecting grooves o4 r are provided to receive the bottom and top of the side walls and to secure them in position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, while preventing the escape of light.

My improved lantern is especially adapted for the use of amateur photographers, inasmuch as it is light and portable and capable of being folded and packed into a very small space.

It is obvious that instead of being triangular in cross-section the lantern may be rectangular or polygonal, it being only necessary that the base and top be made to conform to the configuration of the side walls and that one of the joints of the latter be made detachable; but I prefer the triangular shape, as being lighter, simpler, and cheaper.

By reference to Figs. 3 and 6 it will be apparent that one of the side walls of the lamp may be withdrawn by merely sliding it out longitudinally from the grooves formed by the flanges of the corner-pieces, thus permitting the remaining sides to fold; but I regard this as an inferior modification, in the best construction such withdrawal being prevented by cutting away the flange e7'2 at the top and bottom, as shown at j, Fig. 7, and compressing the part b', as shown at b2, Figs. 2, 5, and 7.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. The combination in a lamp of the class described, of folding side walls and verticallyflanged corner-pieces, each corner-piece being provided with two inturned flanges loosely interlocking with counterpart flanges upon adjacent side walls, and a suitable light-tight base and top arranged to engage therewith, substantially as described.

2. The combination in a photographic lantern, of folding side walls having their vertical edges flanged outwardly,vertical cornerpieces having inturned flanges adapted to engage loosely with the outwardly-turned flanges upon said side walls,whereby a hinge action may be obtained while the passage of light-rays is intercepted, and a removable base and top having vertical grooves adjacent to the edges thereof respectively, to engage the bottom and top of said side walls and lock them in position while rendering the separable joints light-tight, substantially as described.

3. The combination in a photographers lantern, of side walls provided with flanges arranged to interlock at all but one of the intersecting corners, with vertical cornerpieces adapted to intercept light and to loosely engage with the flanges of said side pieces, thereby serving as hinged connections, detachable interlocking flanges arranged to join one of said corners, and a suitable lighttight base and top arranged to engage with said side walls, substantially as described.

4. A photographers lantern having side walls arranged to interlock with each other at one corner by means of a light-tight disconnecting joint and at the others by means of corner-pieces, said corner-pieces being ver- IOO IIO

tically flanged, vertical flanges upon said side Walls arranged to loosely interlock withthe i mit air and to intercept the passage of light,

and suitable grooves for the reception and I5 engagement respectively of the bottom and top of the side Walls, substantially as' described.

In testimony7 whereof I have signed this specification, in the presence of two subscribzo ing Witnesses, this 23d day of November, 1897.

WILLIAM NEIL.

Witnesses:

D. H. FLETCHER, M. E. SHELDs. 

